LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas House members won't vote on whether to elect a new speaker until next week, citing Friday a recount in a race that could deny Republicans an outright majority and, potentially, their chance to lead the chamber for the first time since Reconstruction.

Earlier this year, the House had elected Democratic Rep. Darrin Williams of Little Rock as the speaker designate. But Republicans won 51 seats in the state House in Tuesday's election and 21 seats in the Senate, giving them control of the Legislature. The GOP wants to elect Rep. Terry Rice, of Waldron, as the next speaker.

House Speaker Robert Moore said representatives would meet Thursday to vote on the speaker after nearly three-fourths of the chamber requested a new election Friday. The 51 incoming Republican representatives signed a letter calling for a new speaker election, and 22 Democrats made a similar request.

Moore said waiting until next week for the election would allow for the recount in a northeast Arkansas House race to be resolved. Democrats won 48 seats Tuesday, while the Green Party has one.

"Whatever the scenario that spins out, the 100 member body needs to have a new say in who they want to be their leader," said Moore, a term-limited Democrat who won't serve in the Legislature next year.

Williams, who would be Arkansas' first black speaker if his election is confirmed, said he was still preparing to be the speaker, but is holding off on appointing any committee chairmen.

"I'm not going to be an obstructionist," Williams said. "In the spirit of bipartisanship, I'm not going to make any decisions that will be permanent or have to be overturned. We're going to let this process work."

House Republican leaders said they agreed with waiting until next week. Rice, who lost to Williams in the speaker's race this year, said he believed it would be possible for both parties to work together in t! he sharply divided chamber.

"I feel like working together, we can accomplish a lot of good things," Rice said. "The people who voted 51, 48 and one, if that holds, tells me they want us to work together, and that will be my goal."

The results of the recount for the House District 52 race between Democrat L.J. Bryant and Republican John K. Hutchison may be unknown until Thursday. Bryant requested a recount after losing to Hutchison by 44 votes.

District 52 covers parts of four counties, each of which have to recount ballots. Craighead County began its recount Friday, but Jackson and Poinsett counties won't conduct their recounts until Tuesday morning. Independence County is to recount votes Thursday morning, according to county clerks.

It's unclear what would happen if Democrats prevail in the recount and Republicans don't have an outright majority. House rules require a speaker designate to receive a majority vote.

Also Friday, House members divvied up committee assignments. Republicans hold an outright majority on three committees, including 15 of the 20 seats on the Revenue and Taxation Committee that will hear many of the competing tax-cut proposals expected next year. Democrats hold a majority on four committees, including the Public Health panel that will likely look at issues surrounding the state's Medicaid program.

Neither party holds an outright majority on three House committees.

Republicans in the state Senate have already transitioned into their new role as the majority after winning 21 of the 35 seats in that chamber. The Senate elected Republican Sen. Michael Lamoureux of Russellville as its next president Thursday, and the GOP secured a majority on most of the Senate's top committees.